The era of default looks for the characters of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is over. This week, the company released Operation Shattered Web pass, an update that lets players unlock character skins and use them to customize their avatars.
Ever since the game was released in 2000, players donned generic outfits for their characters. Somehow, the outfits became entrenched on to the game's identity. However, all of that is going to be changed by the newest launch of CS: GO's update—Operation Shattered Web.
Agent Skins
In CS: GO's blogpost, they introduced the main features of the update, including the game's first 'agents.'
Agents are "characters that can be equipped on the T or CT side," the company wrote. They are skins that can be unlocked and equipped by players as they complete more missions.
Valve included a total of 22 agents, each belonging to a rank based on rarity. The ranks are distinguished by descriptors like "Superior Agents" and "Exceptional Agent."
The highest tier agent is the "Master Agent." Valve also added that the four "Master Agents would have special voice lines and animations." One Master Agent can be earned by receiving 100 stars. However, players can also trade, buy, and sell them via Steam.
Feature-packed pass for $15
Players can purchase the pass for $15, a massive jump from the $6 price tag of their last updates Hydra (2017) and Wildfire (2016). It may be on the pricey side, but it offers plenty more features compared to Hydra and Wildfire, which only provided new maps and modes.
The pass will grant players access to weekly mission cards with six non-overlapping missions spanning across Casual, Competitive, Danger Zone, Guardian, and others. Stars earned from accomplishing the missions can be exchanged for rewards like agent skins, case collection skins, new maps, and additions to stickers and graffiti collections.
Missions
Every week, a mission will be released featuring new game modes like Guardian mode and Strike missions. For the first week, a player can get a maximum of ten stars, but the following weeks will only grant six. The stars earned in these missions will be the basis for getting rewards.
End-of-Match Accolades
After every match, this feature highlights accomplishments like total assists, MVPs, and enemies flashed. Accolades show special callouts for players to see after every match, Overwatch-style!
New Maps
For now, there are only three new maps announced. Valve introduced Lunacy, a Lunar outpost map for the Flying Scoutsman, Jungle for the Community-created Danger Zone map, and Studio for Competitive.
Sticker and Graffiti Collection
Alter the aesthetics for a more immersive in-game experience. Expand your Shattered Web stickers and spray graffiti design collections by completing missions and stockpiling stars.
Weapon Collections
Four new weapons and the first collection of skins are available in the Operation Shattered Web pass. They are called Nomad, Paracord, Skeleton, and Survival knives. The Web Case Collection skins sport colorful motifs that bring on an almost entirely different feel to the game. Some of the designs are shown here.
